Settimana delle Bocche - Azzurra continues to win

by Azzurra Sailing Team on 14 Sep 2013 At the Audi Settimana delle Bocche, first, second and third: with these results obtained today, Azzurra is firmly at the top of the overall score table of the event, currently taking place in Porto Cervo. Saturday will see the conclusion and celebration of the 30th anniversary of Azzurra ’83, the 12mR boat that introduced Italians to the America’s Cup.

Porto Cervo has, once again, offered ideal conditions for a world-class yachting competition: impeccable organization both on the water and ashore, thanks to the experience of YCCS, sun and a steady northwesterly breeze that blew at 16 knots and eased to 13 knots later in the afternoon.

Azzurra started the day with a second place behind Ran and ahead of Quantum. In the second race, the yacht flying the burgee of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was victorious, finishing ahead of Interlodge and Provezza, with Quantum fourth. In the day’s third race, Azzurra staged a fierce fight, alternating positions from start to finish: she crossed the line in third in a photo finish behind Quantum and Ran but ahead of Gladiator and Provezza that were hot on her heels in the last run.

Tomorrow is the day of racing at the Audi Settimana delle Bocche, the concluding leg of the 52 Super Series. In the evening, following the prize-giving ceremony, the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Azzurra will take place. The boat that caught the imagination of Italians in the 1983 America's Cup held in Newport, Rhode Island is back in her natural home, Porto Cervo, where she will permanently remain on display in front of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. In addition to a private ceremony with representatives of the crew of that time, led by helmsman Mauro Pelaschier, there will be a public party dedicated to Azzurra at the Phi-Beach in Baja Sardinia.

Guillermo Parada, skipper: 'It was a good day for Azzurra, very intense with very close racing. A day with three races is always tough because you have to be consistent for a long period. At the end we pulled it off and that is great for the entire team. We stayed focused and we want to finish the season on a high note. There is one day left and, hopefully, we will achieve it.'

Vasco Vascotto, tactician: 'The steady breeze that blew throughout the day allowed for three great races to be held. We had three excellent results, the most beautiful race being probably the last. We found ourselves a bit at the back of the fleet and we were able to come back in the race, recovering positions in the second beat, only to slightly give back in the final run but we still managed to finish third. We are still at the top of the provisional leaderboard, but the three-point advantage we have over Quantum doesn’t assure us anything. They are good and we will have to fight to the end.'

Results: 52 Super Series – Audi Settimana delle Bocche, Porto Cervo, Sardegna

Overall after six races

1 Azzurra, ITA, (Alberto Roemmers) (1,2,2,2,1,3) 11pts
2 Quantum Racing, USA, (Doug DeVos) (2,3,1,3,4,1) 14pts
3 Rán Racing, SWE, (Niklas Zennström) (4,4,5,1,5,2) 21pts
4 Gladiator, GBR, (Tony Langley) (5,1,7,7,6,4) 30pts
5 Provezza, TUR, (Ergin Imre) (6,5,4,8,3,5) 31pts
6 Interlodge, USA, (Austin Fragomen) (3,9,3,6,2,9) 32pts
7 Rio, USA, (Manouch Moshayedi) (7,6,6,4,9,7) 39pts
8 Paprec, FRA, (Jean Luc Petithugenin) (DNF,7,8,5,8,6) 44pts
9 B2, ITA, (Michele Galli) (8,8,9,DNC,7,8) Azzurra website